Jules Pilates Studio

Soap Box | November 30, 2013

For several years, I’ve wanted to make changes in my lifestyle. For instance, I have not been happy with how much I drive around town. I used to ride my bike everywhere, but as my schedule filled more and more, I had less and less time to commute, so I drove more. As my biking muscles weakened, it became harder to get anywhere quickly by bike, so I again, I drove more. Now, I ride very little, and I miss it. I miss being outside. I miss breathing and sweating, and sometimes cursing, and feeling the happy effort of my lungs and legs.

In addition to not liking to drive, I am not pleased with my carbon footprint on this planet. I wonder if I could drive less and use less gasoline and pollute less? Certainly, at home, there are issues too–could I buy into renewable energy rather than rely fossil fuels? Could I purchase products solely from local businesses? There are obvious and difficult gaps to bridge in this respect. I can buy local cheese, but not locally produced fabric. Do I want to have a steel mill up the street?

As more and more retail and restaurant spaces go into my near neighborhood that are globally linked, that rely on shipping, or promote unsustainable farming practices, I wonder, why can’t I have an hardware store nearby rather than a third major grocery store? 99% of the stuff in those places is so full of additives and chemicals it doesn’t resemble food at all. Or it is grown with the help of Monsanto whose practices are geared towards ownership of genes and control of world-wide seed and food sources. Again, the health of their products, Round-Up and GMOs, are threatening the health of the planet just as much as the rise in carbon in our atmosphere. I still wish they had built a city dog park in the enormous pit they filled with yet another super Target. I envisioned happy dogs and people walking. Fruit growing for the homeless. Homeless people tending vegetable gardens for the food pantries.

I was talking to Sandy today about how so much of the good advice that we hand out to others, is advice that we ignore for ourselves. Or we just don’t take the time or have access to resources that will allow us to live our lives in accordance with health, with our morals, with our inner wisdom, in a way that doesn’t pollute, that allows happiness to seep into every aspect of our actions. Some space for you. Some space for your family. A way to to eat healthy, to want to eat healthy, to enjoy and savor those flavors. A way to relax and take care of our hearts, to nourish our spirits and community. To say hi to the neighbor that you’ve never met. To talk to that irritating person who’s serving your latte in a way that shows you have compassion and you know what it’s like to feel tired, harried, over-worked, under-paid, and just plain grumpy.

My soap box grows thin, and I tire of my own complaints.

I have sat long and meditated long and listened to my friends, “but what DO you want?” “How can you change anything when the world is set up the way it is?” I don’t have the answers to either of those questions. But I am done not doing anything. I am done with not giving it a go.

And so I start a new endeavor. I invite you to join me in this new endeavor. Create something new for yourself.

January 1, Jules Pilates Studio will open it’s doors. I don’t expect that it will be a perfect place or run entirely smoothly or fulfill all our needs, but here’s where I can start. It is close to my home, so I can bike. It is on the bus route, so I can ride the bus. There is a bike rack near so you can bike and bus too. If you do, or if you walk from work or home, or if you carpool with your classmates, I will put money into your account. A reward for taking care, of yourself, of our world.

I’d like to do a lot of things for you. I’d like to show you how to do yoga and Pilates and meditation in a way that promotes your health, that heals your body, that soothes your anxious nerves. I’d like to promote community and learn from you. I can bring in other teachers for workshops so we all can learn and try new things. I’d like to have Friday donation classes that give back to our local charities and charities that support wildlife and environmental issues. I want this studio to feel comfortable and inviting. Sometimes we’ll have to be quiet. Sometimes we’ll get to be noisy. Sometimes, I know we’ll be working very hard, very seriously, and sometimes, I know the rooms will be filled with our laughter.

There is space here for you. There is understanding. I want to broach the difficult topics–climate change, poverty, eating disorders, illness, cancer, close-mindedness, and sometimes, I don’t. I want to just breathe and enjoy your company. Let’s see what you want and need and make room for that. Let’s see what evolves. I hope that is us. Our sense of community. Our health. I am honored by your presence in my life. Namaste.

What’s Up?

What they say …

Your classes are so enjoyable! Lately I’ve been trying to go to another class closer to my home. It gives me a better appreciation for your teaching style.
I like the elegance of your language/word choices in class, your ability to discuss the body and its mechanisms from a dancer’s or athlete’s point of view. I now am more grateful than ever for how you’ve let us “be” in poses without over-attention to “perfect”…

All through college I took yoga, and I always got A’s. The teacher never helped me do the poses right so I was always pulling my muscles. Then when I started doing yoga with Jules, she helped me get my body into the poses the right way so I felt a stretch in my muscles, rather than pulling them in the wrong way. It’s like your body works with you. With the other instructors I had, it was like my body was working aga…

I wanted to write you a note to say thank you for consistently providing fantastic classes for your students. Each class I learn something new or get challenged with a new concept in a completely safe and accepting environment. I have learned so much about my body and how to move it. Thank you so much for inviting us all into your life each and every day. We are blessed.

Best Pilates Studio Ever! Jules is a professional, friendly instructor who truly cares about her clients.
There are classes available for all levels and since Jules has so many years of experience she is great at modifying an exercise or making it more challenging to accommodate everyone’s needs.
Thank you Jules for keeping me in great shape and being an amazing, attentive & talented instructor

I came across your website after searching for flossing exercises for my arm and shoulder which have given me a lot of trouble and pain lately.
I live in Calgary, Alberta, Canada so I can’t come to your studio unfortunately.
I’m at work suffering with pain and just tried an exercise that you’re demonstrating and I already feel better!!
Just wanted you to know you’ve helped me out and wanted to say thanks!!

CoreAlign has turned out to be the thing I was looking for, but didn’t know existed. I have literally tried everything to address a stubborn pelvic imbalance, and was beginning to think that chronic hip pain, limiting my athletic activities, was my new normal. Within a few weeks of starting CoreAlign under Jules’ instruction, I am surprised to be free of pain, cross country skiing stronger and more efficiently than…

I seldom break a sweat during Pilates classes with Jules so some would think that I am not getting much of a workout. What I have found since starting classes a year ago is that I am much more mindful of how I move my body. I am learning how to be more economical in my movements and that mindfulness has carried over to my other activities which are weight training, running and cross-country skiing.
Thanks for all …

Just wanted you to know what a difference yesterday’s workouts made. Last night I was able to sleep on my back for the first time in several months–not distorting shoulders in usual “fetal position” mode.

Liron Weiss is an excellent teacher and a fantastic resource for the Jules Pilates clientele. I am so grateful to have her as a part of our team. I was initially skeptical at Sue Hitzmann’s MELT Method book, but what she was saying made sense and was easy to follow. When Liron started teaching at Jules Pilates, I started doing some of the techniques on a regular basis. These MELT techniques really help me with my ove…